Italian food has taken the world by storm. It is popular in restaurants, take-aways and in the home. There is a large range of Italian foods and they have their origins in regional products.
Umbria's combination of cool climate/mountains and the Moraiolo variety of olive produce spicy olive oils with a delicious green colour. More on olive oil and the special characteristics of oil from Podere valle Pulcini. Olive oil can also be purchased from the frantoio (olive mill) at Monteleone or from specialist shops in Orvieto.
Macdonalds eat your heart out! Porchetta (roast pork) is the ultimate snack in a bun. A whole pig is stuffed with herbs and spices and roasted on a spit. When cold it is sliced and placed in a bread roll. Porchetta stands can be found at markets, fairs etc. It is also sold at butchers shops where one sees signs such as "Porchetta every Thursday."
The oak forests of Umbria are a hunting ground for truffles (tartufi). Norcia is the centre for the the top quality black tartufo and there are heaps of tartufo pastes, sauces and tartufo dishes in ristorante. Tartufo dishes and pastes are often made with the addition of funghi porcini mushrooms. The woods around Il Nido are the home of the the summer truffle. It is harvested by hunters using specially trained dogs in late summer. It is not as highly regarded as the black truffle and is considerably cheaper. There is a truffle fair in Fabro every year at the end of harvest. See Markets etc.
Wild boar (cinghiale) is hunted in the forests and appears on ristorante menus.
These were raised by the small Umbrian sharefarmers and are a traditional part of Umbrian food. See Markets etc.
An ancient species of wheat that is still cultivated in parts of Umbria. Used mainly as a grain in soup.
Lentils grown in the high plateau above Norcia are particularly famous for their flavour.
Snail shaped buns (hence the name - Lumache are snails) flavoured with cheese and bacon but definitely not snails! The best are found in Fabro.
These often have a local basis and a seasonal one. Special cakes are produced for seasonal festivals.
All these traditional dishes are available in ristorante and also in supermarkets and small shops throughout Umbria. The Umbri are not only proud of their traditional food but they are addicted to it.
Most products bought in shops and supermarkets are home made and fresh.
Fruit and vegetables come from local growers although in supermarkets some is imported from other European countries - mostly Spain and Holland. Most meat in local shops is raised in the region. Rarely is it imported from outside Italy. The provenance of fruit, vegetables and meat is clearly shown on the label.